This past weekend's summit between domestic surveillance enthusiasts Xi Jinping and Barack Obama was carefully orchestrated to appear informal, taking place at a retreat in Rancho Mirage, California. This informality was telegraphed, rather comically, by a no-necktie dress code even more rigid than the standard political uniform: everyone was apparently required to wear the same shapeless navy suit they always wear with a white shirt and one (1) button undone. The result being that everyone looked ridiculous and uncomfortable. They would have been better off keeping the ties.